Spring-tightener.



L. M. MENGEE & A. GRIFFITHS. SPRING TIGHTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17, 1913.

'1 974,5 1 5 v Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

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COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. n. C.

'UNrTE.

STATES FATT Fl fi LOYD M. MENGLE AND ALFRED GRIFFITHS, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY.

SPRING-TIGHTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 17, 1913.

Patented Sept. 30, 1913.

Serial No. 742,666.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Lori) M. MENGLE and ALFRED GRIFFITHS, citizens of the United States, residing at Atlantic City, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-Tighteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring tight eners.

The ordinary bed spring tightener consist-ing of a rotary shaft at one end of the spring frame to which the spring is attached is inadequate to tightenthe springs uniformly for instance, where'a heavy person uses one side of the bed and a light person the other side, the springs beneath the heavy person will be stretched more than those beneath the light person, but where the shaft is all the same diameter throughout and is bodily rotated all portions of the spring are accordingly tightened, whereas the portion of the springs which has been beneath the heavy person should be tightened more than the portion which has been beneath the. light person.

It is the object of this invention to avoid the difficulties inherent in the old type of spring tightener and provide means whereby diiferent portions of the spring may be tightened in proportion to their needs.

Further objects of this invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connect-ion with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a detail plan view of the frame showing the ordinary form of spring tightener shaft having the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through the tightener shaft.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 represents an ordinary spring frame which has journaled therein at one end a shaft 2 extending entirely across the frame and having attached thereto one end of the spring fabric 3, the opposite end of which is attached to the opposite end of the frame as is Well understood. The shaft is squared at its end so as to receive an operating crank and is notched adjacent the squared end so as to be properly engaged by the locking pawl 4 which may be arranged at both ends if so desired. Removably applied to the shaft is a curved wedge-shaped member 5 which is held on the shaft by the springs as will .be readily understood. The wedge member increases the diameter of the shaft at the point of application thereof and thereby stretches those springs or that portion of the spring fabric engaged by the wedge-shaped member to a greater extent than the remaining portions throughout the width of the shaft. The wedge is preferably constructed of fiber but may be constructed of any other suitable material and is arranged so as to fit the shaft and has its upper face transversely curved so as tOm'LVOId presenting a sharp edge to the spring fabric.

IV hat is claimed is 1. A bed spring tightener comprising a rotatably mounted shaft to which the spring fabric is attached, and means for increasing the diameter of the shaft at a predetermined point in its length.

2. A bed spring tightener comprising a rotatably mounted shaft to which the spring fabric is attached, and means for increasing .the diameter of a predetermined portion of the shaft proportionately as the same is rotated to tighten the fabric.

3. A bed spring tightener comprising a rotatable shaft to which the fabric is attached, and removable means for increasing the diameter of portions of the shaft proportionately as the shaft is rotated to tighten the fabric.

4. A bed spring tightener comprising a rotatable shaft to which the fabric is attached, and a removable wedge adapted to fit the shaft and to be held in position thereon by the spring fabric.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

LOYD M. MENGLE. ALFRED GRIFFITHS.

Witnesses:

Jos. H. MAsoN, RALPH E. BRODE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

